We live in a world addicted to busy. Ask someone how they are, and you’ll hear it: “Busy.” “Crazy busy.” “Nonstop.” It’s become a badge of honor. Proof of importance. A proxy for success.
But here’s the truth: busy is the enemy of effectiveness. Busy is a smokescreen. A hamster wheel. A surefire path to burnout and regret.
The first power principle of time mastery? Do less.
Not because you’re lazy. But because you’re ready to focus on what actually matters. Doing less means letting go of the illusion that your worth is tied to your output. It means understanding that more activity doesn’t equal more impact. And it means getting honest about the urgent things that demand your time—versus the important ones that actually move your life forward.
When I work with high-achievers—CEOs, attorneys, physicians, entrepreneurs—what I often find is this: they’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and secretly unsatisfied. They’ve built lives that look impressive on the outside… but feel unsustainable on the inside.
What they need isn’t a better to-do list. They need a Stop Doing List.
Because doing less isn’t about slacking off, it’s about showing up with more clarity, more focus, and more energy for the things that truly count.
So ask yourself: What am I doing that I don’t really need to be doing? What could I let go of—today—that would open up time, space, and freedom?
Start there. Start small. Cut one thing. Say no to a meeting. Cancel a low-impact commitment. Hand off a task that drains you.
Because when you do less, you create space to do your best. And you step out of survival mode… into mastery.
You don’t need to earn your rest; or prove your worth. You just need to choose what matters most—and give yourself permission to let the rest go.
Need help? Let’s talk. Email me: [email protected]
